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BERRY GLOBAL GROUP, INC. (BERY)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 FY2025 delivered 2% organic volume growth across all three segments and Adjusted EPS of $1.09 (+5% YoY), while GAAP operating income fell 8% YoY to $152M due to higher business integration costs tied to the pending Amcor merger .
- Net sales were $2.385B (+2% YoY) and Operating EBITDA was $378M (+4% YoY), with a $16M favorable price-cost spread supporting profitability; FY2025 guidance was reaffirmed (Adjusted EPS $6.10–$6.60; CFO $1.125–$1.225B; FCF $600–$700M) .
- Strategic portfolio actions advanced: completed HHNF spin/merger (Nov), announced all-stock combination with Amcor, and closed sale of the Tapes business in early February, positioning Berry as a streamlined consumer packaging pure-play .
- The company did not host a Q1 call due to the pending Amcor transaction; management posted the release and a presentation to its IR site, limiting real-time Q&A catalysts this quarter .
- Dividend of $0.31 per share payable March 17, 2025 (record date March 3, 2025) was declared; no buybacks in Q1 as the company prioritizes deleveraging amid strategic transactions .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Adjusted EPS grew 5% YoY to $1.09, and Operating EBITDA rose 4% YoY to $378M; organic volume growth was +2% with all segments positive, demonstrating resilience in consumer-focused packaging .
- Price-cost spread contributed a $16M favorable impact, supporting margins despite a muted demand backdrop; Consumer Packaging North America volumes +4% led by food, beverage, and foodservice markets .
- Strategy execution: completed HHNF spin/merger, announced Amcor combination, and closed sale of Tapes business, advancing focus on fast-moving consumer goods and deleveraging priorities .
- Quote (CEO): “We had a strong start to fiscal 2025, delivering 2% organic volume growth and a 5% increase in adjusted earnings per share compared to the prior year… we anticipate continued low-single digit volume growth… along with strong adjusted free cash flow” .
What Went Wrong
- GAAP operating income down 8% YoY to $152M due to increased integration costs tied to the Amcor merger; EBIT margin compressed to ~6.4% from ~8.5% in Q4 and ~9.6% in Q3 on seasonality and cost headwinds .
- Cash from operations and FCF (continuing ops) were negative in the quarter (CFO $(372)M; FCF $(488)M) on seasonal working capital outflows, weighing near-term liquidity optics despite full-year targets .
- Total GAAP diluted EPS was $0.12, including a $(0.57) discontinued operations impact from HHNF, complicating headline EPS comparability and investor read-through .
Financial Results
Segment breakdown – Q1 FY2025:
Key KPIs:
Guidance Changes
Notes: Management indicates FY2025 guidance excludes impacts from the Amcor/Berry combination; reconciliations of forward-looking adjusted EPS and FCF are not provided due to variability of certain items .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Berry did not host a Q1 FY2025 earnings call due to the pending Amcor transaction; themes below track commentary across recent quarters’ disclosures.
Management Commentary
- “Our recent strategic actions, including the completion of the spin-off/merger of our HHNF business, announcement of the expected combination with Amcor, and the sale of our Tapes business, mark significant milestones… delivering 2% organic volume growth and a 5% increase in adjusted earnings per share… we anticipate continued low-single digit volume growth… along with strong adjusted free cash flow” — Kevin Kwilinski, CEO .
- “Our intentional focus on fast-moving consumer goods will lead to more predictable earnings growth and cash generation… pursuing three key strategic objectives: accelerating organic growth, increasing margins through improved operations, and deleveraging” — Kevin Kwilinski, CEO .
- Q4 context: “New Berry emerges as a global leader of consumer-focused packaging solutions with enhanced stability of earnings, free cash flow and growth… dividend raised to $0.31; leverage at 3.5x” .
Q&A Highlights
- No earnings call was hosted for Q1 FY2025 due to the pending Amcor transaction; Berry posted the release and presentation to its IR site instead, limiting real-time Q&A and guidance clarifications this quarter .
Estimates Context
- Wall Street consensus (S&P Global) for Q1 FY2025 and FY2025 was unavailable in our system due to a Capital IQ mapping issue for BERY; as a result, we cannot assess beat/miss versus consensus this quarter. Management reaffirmed FY2025 guidance (Adjusted EPS $6.10–$6.60; CFO $1.125–$1.225B; FCF $600–$700M), which provides the anchor for expectations in the absence of published consensus within our data access .
- Note: The company reported Adjusted EPS of $1.09 and Operating EBITDA of $378M in Q1 FY2025, consistent with low-single-digit volume growth and favorable $16M price-cost spread; analysts will likely triangulate to management’s reaffirmed full-year ranges until SPGI consensus access is restored .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Q1 FY2025 executed to plan: low-single-digit volume growth across segments, Adjusted EPS up 5% YoY ($1.09), and Operating EBITDA up 4% YoY ($378M), with a favorable price-cost spread (+$16M) supporting margins .
- GAAP optics reflect integration costs (Amcor) and discontinued operations (HHNF), compressing EBIT margin to ~6.4% and total diluted EPS to $0.12; underlying continuing ops EPS is $0.69, aligning with management’s consumer packaging focus .
- Strategy is a near-term stock narrative: completed HHNF spin/merger, announced Amcor combination, and closed Tapes sale; expect transaction-related updates and regulatory milestones to be key catalysts into mid-2025 .
- Capital returns intact amid deleveraging: $0.31 dividend declared; no Q1 buybacks; management reiterates debt reduction and strong full-year CFO/FCF targets .
- Seasonal working capital weighed on quarterly CFO/FCF, but full-year guidance remains intact; monitor volume trajectory (particularly North America food/beverage & European industrial recovery) and price-cost dynamics .
- Segment lens: CPN strength (+4% organic volume) and Flexibles recovery (+1%) offset Europe softness (CPI +1% organic volume with weaker demand in Europe), supporting consolidated +2% organic growth .
- With no Q1 call, fewer immediate narrative shifts; focus instead on execution against FY2025 guidance and milestones for the Amcor transaction and ongoing deleveraging .